California updates restrictions involving conversion therapy
Oct 11, 2026 edition · GC-2026-0126 · Published 2026-10-11 · Version 3 · Final
SB 934 updates California's prohibition on sexual-orientation or gender-identity change efforts with patients under 18. The September 26 law focuses on directing patients toward predetermined outcomes, preserves specified nondirective and supportive care, and treats prohibited efforts as unprofessional conduct subject to licensing discipline.
What happened
California chaptered SB 934 on September 26 as Chapter 469. The amended definition addresses practices during mental-health services that seek to direct a patient toward a predetermined sexual orientation or gender identity outcome, regardless of the intended direction of change. It includes efforts to increase or reduce attractions toward a particular sex and efforts to suppress or constrain gender identity or expression. Sections 865.1 and 865.2 prohibit the defined efforts with patients under 18 and make attempted covered efforts unprofessional conduct subject to the relevant licensing entity's discipline.
The definition expressly excludes nondirective psychotherapy supporting coping, identity exploration, and self-understanding without a predetermined orientation or identity outcome. It also excludes age-appropriate responses to unlawful conduct or unsafe practices when they do not direct the patient toward a particular orientation or identity, and supportive care consistent with applicable standards that respects the patient's experienced and defined gender identity. The statutory mental-health-provider definition lists the identified licensed professions as well as specified associates, interns, trainees, and other California-designated professionals. The law therefore requires attention to the service, intended outcome, patient age, and practitioner category, rather than treating all identity-related counseling as prohibited.
Scope and timing
- Authority status
- Final
- Applicability
- Directly applicable
- Audience
- Health systems, Provider networks
- Jurisdiction
- California
- Recorded date
- 2027-01-01
- Date type
- effective
Why it matters
Behavioral-health providers and contracted networks need to confirm that clinical policies, training, referral practices, and oversight reflect the enacted rule.
Recommended action
Assign Behavioral Health and Legal to review the chaptered text, identify affected services and professionals, and document required policy or training changes.
Sources
- SB 934, bill historyOfficial · California Legislature · 2026-09-26 · Source review 2026-09-27
- SB934 current official textOfficial · California Legislature · 2026-09-26 · Source review 2026-10-11
- California Constitution, Article IV section 8(c), official Assembly 2023–24 editionOfficial · California State Assembly · Source review 2026-10-14
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